The Embassy Suites in downtown St. Paul has been home to a family of tame ducks for many years.  Scott D. Clark of Denver decided it would be funny to grab one of the ducks out of the ornamental pond in the hotel's lobby and rip its head off.

While a guest at the Embassy Suites Hotel in St. Paul, Clark allegedly cornered the duck early Saturday morning, grabbed the bird and ripped its head off while a hotel security guard and others watched.

Clark then turned to onlookers and said, "I'm hungry. I'm gonna eat it," said St. Paul police Sgt. John Wuorinen, citing the police report. "He was allegedly drunk."

Clark was detained by hotel security guards until police came to arrest him.

He told officers he was an employee of the federal government before asking them if he was in trouble. When they told him he was, Clark retorted, "Why, because I killed it out of season? Big deal, it's just a ------- duck."

Clark posted bond and was released this afternoon.  He has been charged with one felony count of animal cruelty, punishable by up to two years in prison with up to a $5,000 fine.  His next court appearance will be Oct. 16.  Link.